Seven forwards, two defenders and one goaltender were named as top-10 finalists for the upcoming 2026 Patty Kazmeier award.
As expected, University of Wisconsin players dominated the list with award favorite Caroline Harvey making her third appearance alongside fellow Team USA Olympian Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden and Kirsten Simms. Only three nominees had never been finalists before, and for four, it was their third time on the list. Notably, only three finalists were Canadian and the remaining seven are American. The top three finalists are expected to be announced on March 11, and the winner will be revealed March 21.
My Top Three
Caroline Harvey, who was recently named MVP of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, has had an incredible year. After two seasons as a finalist, 2026 might just be the year she takes the prize. Last year, Harvey was named to the top-three alongside Wisconsin teammates Laila Edwards and Casey O’Brien. In her final year in the NCAA, she leads the NCAA in assists per game and has netted 58 points, 17 goals and 41 assists. She’s also one of just two defenders on the list.
Abbey Murphy not only had a viral hockey move this year, she’s had the stats and an Olympic gold medal to back up her finalist spot. She leads the country in goals per game at 1.31 and points per game at 2.21, and won’t be an easy name to leave off the Top-three list. Much like Harvey, its her final year to grab the prize after two other years as a finalist.
As one of just two juniors on the list, the youngest year that made an appearance, it’s Kahlen Lamarche’s first time as a finalist. That likely won’t hold her back from a top-three appearance, given her 42 goals. The Quinnipiac forward has netted the most goals of the entire NCAA and has broken both the single-season goal and point record for Quinnipiac. She’s a big reason Quinnipiac is looking at a No. 7 spot in the NPI. Just last week, she scored seven goals in a three-game series against Brown. Certainly looks like a Patty Kazmeier winner.
Here’s who else to look for
Tia Chan, the only goaltender on the list, is in her final year in the NCAA and has helped backstop UConn to a No. 6 spot in the NPI. A goaltender has not won the award since Aerin Frankel in 2021 but Chan has certainly put up some stats to make her case. She’s third in the NCAA in save percentage at .948 and sixth in goals against average at 1.588.
Lacey Eden trails only Harvey in assists per game this year in the NCAA at 1.19. She’s also third in points per game at 1.94 and fifth in goals per game at .75. While it’s her first time as a finalist, she currently leads the NCAA in points at 70, so she’s not someone to brush off anytime soon.
Perhaps no college hockey player has made bigger waves this year than Laila Edwards. As the first Black member of the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team, she took home two goals, six assists and a gold medal in the 2026 olympics. One of the most recognizable players, Edwards has racked up 39 points and 14 blocks. Last year, she made the top-three, this year, it wouldn’t be a stretch to have her back.
Senior Tessa Janecke has been making waves since her freshman year. In just her sophomore year, she started her run as a Patty Kazmeier finalist. She has put up 27 goals, 43 points and 28 blocks this season. She also made five assists as a member of Team USA in the 2026 Olympics.
A second-time finalist, Joy Dunne has put up 26 goals and 47 assists this season. Most recently, she became Team USA’s youngest player in the 2026 Olympics at just 20-years-old.
Kirstin Simms is on the list for the third time as a senior. She put up 22 goals and 51 points this season.
Issy Wunder, a Princeton senior forward is tied for third in goals in the NCAA at 27, alongside 43 points and 20 blocks.